what constitutes buying links

jbob · 03-06-2008, 07:46 AM

I am a bit confused as to what is regarded as 'buying links' Would paying for a directory listing constitute buying links? Also what about paying for something like this www.mumandworking.co.uk/Mums-Marketplace

Any thoughts?
by the way i have nothing to do with the above url i am just using it as an example.

tdd1984 · 03-06-2008, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbob

I am a bit confused as to what is regarded as 'buying links' Would paying for a directory listing constitute buying links? Also what about paying for something like this www.mumandworking.co.uk/Mums-Marketplace

Any thoughts?
by the way i have nothing to do with the above url i am just using it as an example.

What do you mean?

Buying links is just the general practice of buying links...

jbob · 03-06-2008, 08:42 AM

if say you are paying for a listing in a relevant marketplace and you have to pay a one time review and set up fee. Is this sort of thing likely to be penalised by Google for example?

corlock · 03-06-2008, 08:42 AM

maybe you mean what is the limitations or parameters of buying links in order not to be penalized by google?

MrCat · 03-06-2008, 01:09 PM

Buying links - could be in the form of text links, ads, or banners.

Some require a review fee for inlusion in directories, this doesn't necessarily constitute link buying.

seconnection · 03-06-2008, 03:25 PM

Just dont do it.

bogs · 03-06-2008, 06:32 PM

well you can still sell or buy links, but theres a limitation.

Quote:

Not all paid links violate our guidelines. Buying and selling links is a normal part of the economy of the web when done for advertising purposes, and not for manipulation of search results. Links purchased for advertising should be designated as such. This can be done in several ways, such as:

* Adding a rel="nofollow" attribute to the <a> tag
* Redirecting the links to an intermediate page that is blocked from search engines with a robots.txt file
google.com

jbob · 03-07-2008, 04:06 AM

surely a Yahoo! directory listing counts as buying links then?

MrCat · 03-07-2008, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbob

surely a Yahoo! directory listing counts as buying links then?

Some say it is a review fee... but considering the amount involved, it may fall already under paid links, lols

doogers · 03-07-2008, 12:32 PM

The yahoo directory is a good question. I don't have any money to spend on links, but if I did I probably would buy one in yahoo.

~DaRk-EyE~ · 03-07-2008, 01:06 PM

Be very careful in engaging with paid links...
Make sure you'll follow Google's guidelines in acquiring paid links as Posted by bogs...
Google is keeping an eye on suspicious paid links which main purpose is to manipulate SERP rankings...
If you can build quality links without spending a single dime, it is much better...

Avril · 03-07-2008, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrCat

Some say it is a review fee... but considering the amount involved, it may fall already under paid links, lols

I think that too...lol...Actually the only different I see it that when you paid a links you are 95% sure to be included...however, in paying for your review, I'm not quite sure if your site will be included it depend on the reviewer I think...IMO..

MrCat · 03-09-2008, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Avril

I think that too...lol...Actually the only different I see it that when you paid a links you are 95% sure to be included...however, in paying for your review, I'm not quite sure if your site will be included it depend on the reviewer I think...IMO..

That is a dilema when submitting your site and paying for the review and then NOT being included in the end

**John Scott** · 03-09-2008, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seconnection

Just dont do it.

Can't agree with that. Link buying, done in an intelligent manner, is an effective way of increasing a website's visibility in the search engines, not to mention the direct referrals from the links themselves.

http://blog.v7n.com/2007/05/02/john-...link-building/

MrCat · 03-09-2008, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Scott

Can't agree with that. Link buying, done in an intelligent manner, is an effective way of increasing a website's visibility in the search engines, not to mention the direct referrals from the links themselves.

http://blog.v7n.com/2007/05/02/john-...link-building/

Agreed! Buy links for targeted traffic and exposure. Google only frowns at sites that buy and sell link for the sole purpose of manipulating PR and SERP.

ScriptMan · 03-09-2008, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrCat

Agreed! Buy links for targeted traffic and exposure. Google only frowns at sites that buy and sell link for the sole purpose of manipulating PR and SERP.

I agree 200% with what you said. Can you verify in any way that is what Google believes?

sclick · 03-09-2008, 08:55 PM

Hi ... Bogs provided the information I, too, have been after and after for a long time. Thanks.

MrCat · 03-10-2008, 02:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScriptMan

I agree 200% with what you said. Can you verify in any way that is what Google believes?

Here you go. Quoted from an email sent by Matt Cutts to searchenginejournal.com

Quote:

The partial update to visible PageRank that went out a few days ago was primarily regarding PageRank selling and the forward links of sites. So paid links that pass PageRank would affect our opinion of a site.

Going forward, I expect that Google will be looking at additional sites that appear to be buying or selling PageRank.

Taken from: http://www.searchenginejournal.com/m...k-update/5906/

astaqauliyah · 03-10-2008, 02:20 AM

i agreed with your opinion guys. Buying links is the good choice to increase your site's exposure...

Tyler Banfield · 03-10-2008, 02:41 AM

Unfortunately, there is no clear cut answer to your original question.

Here's a detailed post that looks at the different factors of this issue:

http://andybeard.eu/2007/04/google-paidlinks.html